The New York Herald Newspaper, April 6, 1863, Page 4

4 NEW YORK HERALD. JAMES GORDON BENNETT, EDITOR AND PKOPRIELOR. ‘OFFICE N. W. CORNER OF FULTON AND NASSAU 8T8. TERMS cash in advance. atthe risk of the seuder. Noue but bank bills current in New York taken. THE DAILY HERALD, Tanke cents per copy. THE WEEKLY BERALD, every Saturday, at Five cents per copy. Annual subscription price:— One Copy $2 Three Copies. 5 Five Copies, . 8 Tea Copies +15 Velume XXVIII,, AMUSEMENTS THIS EVENING. ACADEMY OF MUSIC. Irving place.—Ialian Opera~ omx, on, THe Last Days or Powrutt, NIBLO'S GARDEN, Broadway,—Epira. WALLAOK'S THEATRE. Broudway.—Love axo Monn WINTER GARDEN, Broadway.—East LYNne. LAURA KEENE’S THEATRE, Broadway.—Bantar Bay—Nature amp Axr. NEW BOWERY THEATRE, Bowery.—Satanas—Mar- Rie Kaxx—Two Drovuns. BOWERY THEATRE. Bowery—My Wire's Sxconp FLoor—Jack AND THK BEANSTALK—R&TORN OF THR WaN- DEREK BARNUM'S AMERICAN MUSEUM, Broadway.—Minntz Warren. Com. Nort, Livinc Hirrorvoramus, &c., at all hours —M tiers Maip—Love iN ALL CORNERS. Afternoon and Evening. BRYANTS’ MINSTREL! way.—Etuiorian SonGs, Davpr. WOOD'S MINSTREL HALL, Songs, Dances, 40.—1 Aint Gor Mechanics’ Hall, 472 Broad. eLusquEs, Dances, &c.—Hica 4, Broadway. —Ermioriam Tink TO TARRY. THE NEW IDEA, 485 Broadway.—Sonas, Burixsquxs, BALiets, Ac. HOPE CHAPEL, 72) Broadway—MacEvor's Hisermt- CON; on, A TouR IN IRELAND. AMERICAN THEATRE, No. 444 Broadway.—Bat. Pawroximas, BuRLesquas. 40. aeiipaea ind, PARISIAN CABINET OF WONDERS, 563 Broadway. ‘Open dailv from 10 A. M. i119 P.M. HOOLEY'S OPERA HOUSE, Sones, Dances, BuRLEsauns, &c. ODD FELLOWS’ HALL, Hoboken.—Gxo. Curistr's Mix- Brooklyn.—ETmrorian. New York, Monday, April 6, 1863. THE SITUATION. Most important: news, if true—and it was fully believed yesterday by prominent officers of the government—has reached us from Fredericksburg, whither it arrived from rebel sources. The intel- ligence is that the bombardment of Charleston by our Jand and naval forces combinedy commenced on Thursday, and that the city is now in the pos- session of our forces, under General Hunter and Admiral Dupont. It is said that these reports are definite and positive, and are entirely credited by those in Washington who are in possession of facts relative to the contemplated attack which would amply warrant such a result. A major of the rebel General Stuart’s staff was captured recently near Dumfries, upon whom the charge of having acted as a spy in our Potomac army lies heavily, which, if it can be substantiated, will probably lead to an ignominious death. The army continues quiet. The enemystill show them- selves in large force on the heights. Snow was still falling yesterday, and the cold was intense. We give to-day the important report of the joint committee of both houses of Congress on the con- duct of the war. MISCELLANEOUS NEWS. Captain Reeve, of the brig Grace Worthington, which arrived at this port yesterday, from Belize, Honduras, reports that on the afternoon of the 10th ult. a fire occurred at Belize, which continued until the night of the 11th, destroying five hun- dred buildings in the business part of the city. Tn another column of to-day’s paper will be found a statement from the Nicaragua Transit Company, in reference to the recent seizure of their steamboats and other »roperty by the local government, for the alleged cause of a non-fulfil- ment of their contract. As the news of the seizure—which we published yesterday—has pro- duced considerable agitation, the statement of the company will no doubt@be read with correspond- ing interest. General Sherman ordered the destruction of two thousand head of cattle and a large quantity of forage and grain, on the plantation at Deer Creek, of the rebel General H.R. W. Hill, one of the largest planters and slaveowners in, the South. ‘The amount of internal revenue in Rhode Island will be two millions of dollars per annum. This is pretty well for the smallest State in the Union. Asparagus, tomatoes, green peas and new pota- toes were in the San Francisco markets as early as the 10th of March, The gallantry of the copperheads was exhibited in Middletown, Connecticut, on Thursday last, in their attempt to prevent, by violence, Miss Dick- inson from addressing the people of that place. There was an increase of marriage licenses granted in Baltimore last month of fifty-three over the number granted in March last year. The excess is accounted for by the fact that the con- scription law exempts married men on the first call between the ages of thirty-five and forty-five. Mr. Arthur Rankin, who was deprived of his seat in the Canadian Parliament by a vote of that body, offered himself again as a candidate for the vacancy to the voters of Essex county, and was defeated in the election by fifty-one majority for Mr. John O'Connor, his opponent. Mr. Rankin, it will be recollected, at the breaking out of the re- bellion, was commissioned by our government colonel of the Michigan Lancers, but resigned at the time of the Mason and Slidell excitement. Some time before the adjournment of the last Congress Hon. Martin F. Conway, representative from Kansas, received resolutions passed by the Legislature of his State strongly condemnatory of his course in the House. Mr. Conway returned the resolutions to the Secretary of State, with the expression of his ‘‘ most profound contempt,’’ and closed his letter by saying:—* I shall ask the peo- ple, in their next election, to say whether I am a traitor or not; and in the meantime I spit upon the resolutions.”’ Hon. Joshua F. Bell, who has received the Union nomination for Governor of Kentucky, was formerly an old line whig, and as such represented the Fourth district in the Twenty-ninth Congress. In 1859 he was the Know Nothing candidate for Go- vernor, in opposition to Beriah Magoffin, und was beaten in the canvass by nearly nine thousand votes. The late fire in Richmond destroyed between even hundred and eight hundred hog: ds of to- bacco, and a quantity of Confederate stores—in all valued at nearly a million of dollars. Tho loss vf the rebel government was two hundred and fir- ty thousand dollara; that of the State of Virginia was two hundred thousand dollars: 1 the ba tance of the loss was sustained by the planters. A large emigration to the State of Illinois is taking place from the States of Virginia, Tennes- see, Kentucky and Missouri. The stations on the Milinois Conteal Railroad are crowded with faini- Mes arriving from the & There was more fy mn stock markets. A sold at Blocks were generally ty 9 tes afflicted with the war. Saturday in the god and closing at about 155. M1 nt Wetter, Exelioge Bae desi ey We LUO Gives Lhe FaKe Wad LUV) a ATO dg. Money sent by mail will be Money was very easy indeed—call loans & a 6 per cent. The export of specie last week was iess than half e mil-. | Mon. ‘Tho market was dull and lower on Saturday for cotton, which closed irreguiarly at 72c, a T3c, for middling. There was a moderate demand for flour and wheat, with a good inquiry for corn and oats, prices of which wero tending | upward. The business in pork was fair at about form r rates. Bacon and lard wete depressed. Beef was inac- tive. There was less doing in whiskey. Tallow and groceri~s without any marked variation tn prices. The | transactions in other articles were limited. The freight market was tame, though rates were maintained. The Report om the Conduct of the War. We publish to-day a condensation of the re- port of the Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War, reviewing our military operations for the last two years. In regard to the peninsular campaign the in- 5 | ferences which the committee leave to be drawn, but do not draw themselves, are unfavorable to General McClellan; but the radicals have had a most difficult job to make up this case. Extreme caution seems to be the gravamen of his offence in the eyes of these non-mili- tary critics. But it ought to be remem- bered that on the result of the battles which McClellan did fight depended the safety of the republic. If the Army of the Potomac had been crushed in any great battle the rebels would have marched into Washington, and the war would have virtually ended in our being compelled to acknowledge the independence of the Southera confederacy; or, if the day at South Mountain or at Antietam had been un- favorable to our arms, the rebel army would have overrun Maryland and annexed it to their confederacy. And therefore McClellan, as a »prudent and patriotic man, ranno unnecessary risks; and for those high qualities of prudence and patriotism he is held up to condemnation. What mattered it, on the other hand, whether we won or lost a battle in the Southwest? We could renew the fight again, even though we were worsted, as we have done at Somerset, Corinth, Vicksburg, Pea Ridge and a dozen other places in that section of the country. But a defeat of the Army of the Potomac was the knell of the republic. McClellan, therefore, deserves eredit for that extreme cautiousness alleged against him, and he can easily console and strengthen himself by the reflection that the greatest military men of all ages have had to bear similar at- tacks for an exhibition of the same qualities. Wellington had his revilers in the British Par- liament while he was conducting his masterly Peninsular campaign, and our own Scott was more worried by the “fire in his rear” than by the Mexicans in his front. We do, however, most heartily coincide with the conclusions of the committee in reference particularly to the necessity of holding the Mississippi river and concentrating a most pow- erful army in that neighborhood. Instead of the miserable driblets of armies sent to perform that great work, we ought to have from three to four hundred thousand men—one half moving up and the other down that river—with iron-clad gunboats to aid in the work, clearing it of all ebstructions, and holding at least the western region at all hazards and to the last extremity. May we, even at the eleventh hour, hope for any enlightened and determined policy in the conduct of the war? One or Lorp Lyons’ “Democratic Lmap- Ers.”—Every one has been anxious to know who were the democratic leaders to whom Lord Lyons refers in his letter to Earl Russell, and who made such extraordinary overtures to him in this city. Of course we share in that very natural curiosity, and we have been going over the names of all that we could think of who might possibly come under that denomination, inthe hope that we might thus be enabled to ascertain who the identical individuals were that had put themselves in this strange communication with the British Minister. Two of the gentlemen named by us in this connection have responded by letter. The first, Mr. Fernando Wood, denies positively, point blank, that he has had any interview with Lord Lyons since the time of the Prince of Wales’ reception. So, of course, his innocence in the matter is established. The second, Mr. August Belmont, whose letter we published yes- terday, denies that he has any interest in the World newspaper—on which fact we congratu- late him; disclaims the title of democratic leader—on which point we admire his good taste; declares his bitter and uncompromising hostility to secession, and his loyalty to the Union—to which declaration we give full faith; but he does not begin to deny that he is one of those very gentlemen whom Lerd Lyons spoke of as democratic leaders, and which was the only point that anybody had any curiosity to know ubout. And, as Mr. Belmont, when he sat down to write his letter, had that very sub- ject most prominently before him, and declined to say a word about it, we must infer that, while be pleaded not guilty to some of the spe- cifications, he pleads guilty to the main charge. Ovr UnempLoyep Generats.—Among our un- employed generals at this time are General McClellan and General Buell, superseded for being too slow; General Butler and General Fremont, set aside for being too fast; General Sigel, on an indefinite leave of absence, and General Franklin, weeded out of the Army of the Potomac for no special reason that we have heard of. At thie rate General Halleck’s re- tired list of major generals will soon exceed those in active service. Who shall undertake to expound the military wisdom of our present General-in-Chief? Wuart 1s Mr. Apams Apout!—They are said to be building a whole fleet of Alabamas and iron-clad rains at Liverpool “for the Emperor of China,” alias Jeff. Davis. From the eager- ness with which the rebel cotton loan was said to have been snapped up in London there would seem to be an understanding be- tween the money changers of the British capital and the builders of rebel war vessels at Liver- pool that something will shortly be done, on a large scale, in the way of a breakage of our Souttera blockade. What is Mr. Adams, | our Minister at London, about? Farracer’s Hosprranities vo THe Mayor or | Narenez, | suavit An excellent exemplification of the modo, fortiter in re, is to be found in the message of Admiral Farragut to the Mayor of Natchez. Indeed, it is a fair specimen of that kind of literature which one might expect from the gallant Admiral. It is in substance , About (hiss If your Honor does not canse the | firing of your people on my fleet to reas | blow you and your city to atoms. shall be most happy to see your Hox my ship.” In this terse message we have all the brusque firinness of the sailor combined most | delightfully with the characteristic hospitality } of that class. NEW YORK HERALD, MONDAY, APRIL 6, 1863. The Saval Poyer Conferred apon the President by Congress. We are assured that the administration has not as yet determined what course to pursue | under the law authorizing the Pre-ideat to | grant letters of marque and reprisals. It is said that the Secretary of State is strongly in favor of holding the privateer law over Eng- land and other governments as a moral power in case the precedent of the Alabama be fol- lowed. There can exist no doubt as to the fact that the power of issuing letters of marque and reprisal adds immensely to the weight which tee remonstrances of our government will now have in Europe. Added to the unbounded resources which the Conscription act conferred upon President Lin- coln, the privilege of issuing letters of marque renders him more powerful than any despotic monarch in the world. The people of the North are an adventurous, hardy race, and when called upon by their President to arm privateers and sweep from the ocean the ene- mies of our country will respond to the ap- peal in a manner which will give a true idea of the power of this nation, and will result in the triumph of our government over all opposition. The Powers of Europe have always endeavor- ed to deprive us of this tremendous engine of warfare, and would gladly have enticed the United States government into bonds against the issue of letters of marque. Our statesmen, however, were too farseeing to sacrifice the in- terests of their country, and thus we preserved the great source of power which Congress has opened to our President. Surely Mr. Lincoln will understand the im- mense advantage he now possesses, and will at once call forth such a naval force as will put a sudden and effectual end to the depredations of the rebel pirates. Private individuals will gladly avail themselves of any opportunity which the government may throw in their way. But let the word ge forth, and the seas will swarm with heavily armed, swift steam vessels of war, which will render our blockade so effectual that all intercourse between the rebels and foreign Powers will entirely cease, while the Alabamas and Floridas will be captured as surely as they exist. That spirit ef invention ‘which distinguishes the people of the Nerth will have a fine field for action if the government will at onee issue letters of marque to all who may apply for them. Iron-clads of every known and of many unknown descriptions would soon swarm the seas, bearing the Stars and Stripes, and crushing out the enemies of the Union. Thus aided the President could bid defiance te all meddling in our affairs, and could, above all, repress instantly the malignant efforts of England’s hostility to this people. The privateers she is now constructing we should seize and convert to our uses. Her ven- tures in the way of blockade running we should most effectually put a stop to, by capturing all veasels coming near the Southern ports with friendly intent to the rebels; and lastly but not least, when we have conquered a peace— say at the expiration of six months, which, with our immense resources, we must do—we can then call England to account for her disloyal conduct during this -war, and exact from her indemnities for the ravages eommitted upon our commerce by vessels which are English—were built in England, manned by English crews, paid for with English money, and who pay over to English capitalists their ill-gotten gains. We will demand indemnities which, if refused, we shall have the power to seize upon. Her commerce would be at our mercy, and this fact alone would render her anxious to refund all losses suffered through her criminal compli- city with the rebels. The moment it is under- stood in Europe that the government of the North issnes letters of marque we shall hear no more of intervention or mediation. France, which has acted towards us with none of the hostility shown by England, will understand, when our privateers swarm the seas, that we need no aid from foreign Powers to put down our rebellious subjects, and we shall hear no more of Napoleon’s intention to favor D avis. France has built no privateers for the rebels, has given them no material aid, and, though her journals have shown favor to the cause of the South, the French government has given usno subject of complaint such as has been afforded by England. We sincerely hope that President Lincoln ap- preciates the powerful weapon he now has placed in his hands, and that he will at once use it. Todo so will strike terror to the hearts of the rebels, who will look upon the unlimited issue of letters of marque as a death knell to their hopes. They are well aware that the “Yankees” are a stirring race when once fully aroused, and that we have the materials for manning innumerable privateers, which would shut them out from. the outer world beyond all hope of release. Europe will as surely abandon the rebels to their fate as that we issue these letters of marque, and we hope the government will not lose a day in putting them into execu- tien. Let us prove to the world that we are in earnest, and we shall hear less of mediation, save that which would tend to make the rebels lay down their arms and re-enter the Union. When we have issued our letters of marque and called out another half million of men Europe will have a proper understanding of our power and determination, as will the rebels, and wé shall make peace at our terms. Tus Connecricut Exxctiox.—We shall get rid of the Connecticut election to-day. From the bold stand taken against the administration, the war measures of the late Congress, and against the war itself, by the copperheads, and from the late significant popular reaction in Rhode Island, a similar result is generally anticipated in Connecticut. In any event, with this election out of the way—which seems to have engaged rather more than necessary the attention of the administration—we may reason- ably entertain the hope that the heads of the government and all concerned will direct their- undivided energies to the paramount business of the war. A Fixe Orextve ror Our Votunteer Dirto- mars.—George Sanders, famous for his myste- rious littie vagabondizing dinner parties and astounding revolutionary plots in both hemi- spheres, is really said to be floing just now an— immense business in England in the way of con- tracts for vessels-of-war for the “so-called Con- federate States.” This fact onght to suggest to | the administration the expediency of sending * out to England forthwith a batch of such indus- | trivous volunteer diplomats as Thurlow Weed, | the Chevalier Wikoif and Colorado Jewett, to checkmate these grand operations of Sanders. the way. { } | Throw in a gun contract or two for the Emperor | | of Japan, and Father Weed or Greeley will lead | ‘Traps oy Tan West—Tux ,New Sure Canat. Souxmes.—The deaf ear turned by our late radi- cal Congress to the recommendations pressed upon it by our New York merchants and leading Western men for the enlargement of the State canals, 80 as to reduce the cost of freights and at the same time open an interior communica tion for the passage of our gunboats between New York and the interior seas, is, as we predicted, already producing its fruits. The Western and Canadian papers have lately been filled with discussions on the merits of the two proposed water, routes to the ocean through Canada—the Georgian Bay and Ottawa ship ca- nals. Besides these there is a third scheme in agitation by British capitalists—namely, the con- struction of a railroad through the Saskatchewan and Red River districts—forming a direct line of communication between the British Provinces and the Pacific. That these enterprises have something more than the character of mere pro- jects may be judged of from the fact that costly surveys have been entered upon-anda good deal of money spent on other preliminaries. .The Western people, despairing of Congress doing anything to redress their complaints, are using strenuous exertions to stimulate these en- terprises. The strongest disposition prevails on the part of the Canadian press and people to co-operate in any plan by which the interests of the Western States and of the provinces can be jointly benefitted. It will be a subject of everlasting regret should Congress, by its continued indifference to the just demands of the Western people, in- sure the consummation of either of the two first mentioned schemes, If ever there was a period when a disposition should be mani- fested to eonciliate the interests of all the different sections of the country and to promote their common welfare it is just now, when our enly chance of re- storing the Union is by promoting good will and eradicating all well founded causes of jealousy between them. Besides, it should not be forgotten that the prosperity of New York depends to a considerable extent on the Western trade. It is consequently our inte- rest to foster instead of driving it into other channels. By the enlargement of our canals on the plan recommended to Congress we can, with the aid of King Frost, put an extinguisher on all those projects whieh con- template making the Canadian ports entrepots for the grain shipments of the West. If it did not have the effect of reducing the present rate of tolls—which it eventually must—it would, in another way, diminish the cost of transporta- tion by abridging the time at present occupied in the conveyance of freights. Now that the defensive requirements of the country point to the enlargement of the canals as a matter of military necessity we have no apprehension that the execution of the project can be long delayed. The people of New York should, however, take steps to manifest their approval of it, in order not merely to quiet the suscepti- bilities of the Western people, but to strengthen the hands of the advocates of the measyre when it comes up for discussion in the next Congress. ELECTIONS TO-DAY. Connecticut Election. ‘To-day the great struggle in Connecticut will culminate, and to-morrow we will no doubt bo able to show the re- gult of the exciting contest which for the past six weeks ‘has been carried on in that State. The canvass has been the most animated the people of that section have ever experienced, and stump speakers, male and female, from nearly every loyal State in the Union, and even from far off Nevada Territory, have contributed to the excitement. In regard to the resdit we have the same opinion that ‘we expressed on the Rhode Island election previous to its taking place. The majority of the voters of Connecticut are no doubt conservative in sentiment, and opposed to abolitionism and negro-worshippers; but the copperheads have been among them and endeavored to infuse into the conservative clement their pernicious ‘*peace’’ doctrines, which has had the effect to drive hundreds over to the re- publican side. The democrats claim, however, that the chances of success were never brighter for their side, and it has been telegraphed over the country that they are making bets on three thousand majority for Thomas H. Seymour, their candidate for Governor. The following names compose the two tickets for State officers: Democrat. Republican. Gevernor....... Thos. H Seymour. Wm. A. Buckingham, Lieut. Governor. Jas. A. Hovey. Roger Averill. See'y of State... .Jas. H. Hoyt. J. H. Trumbull, Preasurer.. . L. Kidstow. Gabriel W. Coite. Comptroller .Lieyd C. Baldwin. Leman W. Cutler. ‘There are also to be chosen four members of Congress. The delegation in the lagt House was equally divided be- tween the two parties, the First and Third districts having been represented by republicans, and the two others by dem: crats. The candidates now are:— Dist fica. Henry C. Deming. Samuel L. Warner. Augustus Brandogee. jeo, C. Woodruff, John H. Hubbard. The first two named on the republican side are war democrats. The vote last year for Governor was as fol- ows:— reir 7,949 Litende! 4,894 Middlesex 2,900 New Haven 7,649 4,712 2,176 Windbam. Lay 3,024 Total... 39,782 Republican majority: Pree Ld The Election in Michigan. An election will be held to-day in Michigan for an Asso- ciate Justice of the Supreme Court of the State, ten Cir- cult Judges and eight Regents of the University. For the Associate Justice the democrats will vote for David Johnson, and the republicans have nominated James V. Campbell, who will, no doubt, be elected. Constitutional Amendment Election in Massachusetts. ‘To day the electors of Massachusetts are to vote yea or nay on the question of repealing the amendment to the constitution which was adopted on the 9th day of May, 1859, and which provides that ‘‘no person of foreign birth shall be entitled to vote, or shall be eligible to ofSce, unless he shail have resided within the jurisdiction Of the United States for two years subsequent to his naturalization, and shall be otherwise qualified, according to the constitution and laws of thie Commonwealth.”” Municipal Elections. The annual elections for charter officers in the citios of Cincinnati and St. Louis will also take place to-day. The Storm on the Coast. A LARGE PLEET AT THE DELAWARE BREAKWATER— THR STEAMER PATROON ASHORE. Lewms, Dei., April 4, 1863. There is a large fleet of vessels in the Breakwater, tak- ing refuge from the storm, including the ship Zanguebar, | from New Orleans for Boston; four brigs, two steamers | and about forty schooners. ‘The steamor Patroon, from New York, with one hun- dred and twenty deserters, for Washington, i# on the | | beach. THE STORM IN THE CHESAPRAKE. Bauriwore, Aprit 6, 1868. Owing to the storm no boat has arrived from Fortress Monroe. News from San Franctaco, | Saw FRANCO, April 4, 1863, Markets quiet. There is little activity in refined su- gars at 13!;0. There is a slightly mereased demand for | groceries, Three bri¢s have cleared for the mouth of the Amoor river, carrying liquors, sugars, dry goods and groceries, English underwriters charge 1 premium war risk on California grain laden ships | ‘The Legisiature has extended its seesion to the 20th of Aprit. HOOKER’S ARMY. Capture of a Rebel Spy—False Alarms at the Outposts—Present to Gen. Hooker— Movements of the Haemy—S mow, Cold ‘Weather and Mud, dec. Hxapquakrans, Anwy oF Tum Poromao, April 5, 1863. Major A. J. Sheppard, of General Stuart's staff, was Captured by our cavalry a few days since, in the vicinity of Dumfries, and is now in custody upon charges of having ‘ected in the capacity of aspy. Positive evidence is accu- mulating that he has repeatedly visited our camps in civilian’s dress, and thereby not only given valuable in- formation to the enemy, but also been instrumental in the capture of many of our pickets. When taken he offered to ven of our men, with horses, arms and Ba }» if released. His conviction is evidently but ®@ qe¥stion of time, and, if found guilty, immediate oxe- cution will inevitably follow. Alarms upon the outposts have been of frequent oo- currence of late, and the troops have been turned out in some of the commands repeatedly; nothing, however, has ever been discovered to justify the excitement. The Potomac creek bridge is about completed, and pro- mises to withstand all the influences of heavy trains, wind and fleod. Yesterday a splendid horse, a gift to Gen. Hooker from his friends in New York, arrived at headquarters. Col. Tyler, of the artillery, has also been presented with 8 fine horse and equipments. Affairs along the river remain as quiet as before. The enomy still displays a large force along the heights, but the indications are that their present position is being evacuated. The snow ig several inches in depth, and still falling. The westher is intensely cold, and the prospect very fair for a fathomless sea of mud. INTEBESTING FROM WESTERN VIRGINIA. The Fight at Point Plea: t—The Rebels Handsomely Repulsed. Wasuincton, April 5, 1863. The following has been received at the headquarters of the army :— Genera Scnencks’ He anguarters, Bartmore, April 4, 1863, } Major General H. W. Hautxck , General-in-Chiof:— 1 have now, through Brigadier General Scammon, Captain Carter’s account of the Point Pleasant affair. Captain Carter had sixty-three men. He reports two killed, three wounded and six taken prisoners, making our total loss eleven. The rebels lost in killed, wounded and prisoners, seventy-two, and so their raid with their largely superior numbers was handsomely repulsed. ROBERT S. SCHENCK, Major Genoral Commanding. Nors.—Point Pleasant is at the mouth of the Kanawha, tn Western Virginia. NEWS FROM WASHINGTON. Wasmnaton, April 5, 1863. THE REBELS NOT EVACUATING RICHMOND. Information has been received contradicting positively the reported preparations of the rebels to evacuate Rich- mond. These reports were based upon the movements of troops and materials sent from Richmond to strengthen the defences at other points of the confederacy. It is believed, however, that they are erecting formidable de- fences at Chattanooga, as a place for a last grand rally in case of being compelled to retire from the borders. THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON THE CONDUCT OF THE WAR. Those who have carefully perused the report of the War Committee, proof copies of which have first been obtained here to-day, complain that, notwithstanding the statement of the committee, that they have performed their task with the utmost impartiality, there are in the report intrinsic evidences that it has emanated from a source deeply prejudiced against Gen. McClellan. It is alleged that in the brief abstracts of the voluminous evi- donce a bias against Gen. McChllan is frequontly ex- hibited. RAILROAD ACCIDENT—-ONE MAN KILLED AND THREE WOUNDED, Last evening the half-past six express train from this city ran into an Ellicott’s Mills train, which had broken down between the Relay House and Baltimore, completely demolishing the rear car. A man had been sent back with a lantern to stop the express, but it is supposed the snow falling had so obscured the light that it was not observed by the engineer of the express train. The broken down train was not a regular passengér train, ‘and there were only four persons, laborers employed upon the road, in it. Of them one was instantly killed, another had a log broken, the third was injured in the breast, and the other wounded in the hand and arm. The express train was delayed until Between ten aad eleven P. M., but the through passengers were imme- diately forwarded from Baltimore in an extra train. No one was injured on the express train. BURGLARS ACTIVELY AT WORK. Several burglaries were committed here last night, showing that the work of clearing the city of the nu- merous thieves of late infesting it is only commenced. One of the parties engaged in last night’s operations is now in custody. The efforts of the authorities to rid the city of villains are producing good results. They have already made Washington quite as safe for persons and property as in times gone by. COL. WYNDHAM’S COMMAND. Col. Percy Wyndham bas been tendered an independent cavalry command in the Army of the Potomac APPOINTMENT. Culver P. Chamberlin, of New York, has been appointed United States District Attorney for the Northern district of Florida. INTERESTING FROM ALBANY. Imprisonment for Debt—The New York cot—The Broadway Raliroad, dc. Atnany, April 5, 1863. It bas transpired that one of the bills that passed the Assembly on Friday has a clause in it to imprison men for debt. The bill is relative to the charter of the village of Morrisania, It was ground out by the Grinding Com- mittee, and passed the Assembly before any person dis. covered it, fortunately, it has yet to be acted upon in | the Senate. ‘This is the fruits and one of the blessings of a Grinding Committee in a Legislature. If a bill with a clause tu it to hang every member of the Grinding Committee was presented, 1 doubt if these gentiemen would discover it until it had passed, so loove is their system of doing busi ness. Governor Seymour understands the loose mode and the reckless way that bills are being passed, virtualiy without any consideration «tall. He signs no bilis until he has carefully and thoroughly read them himseif. and has two of his officials under him read and scrutinize every line. The New York charter bill relative to the heads of de- ts has been signed and is now a law It is rumored that the Albany and Susquehanna bill has also been signed. If so, the Comptrolier will refuse to pay the money and contest the matier in the courts, on tne ground that jt is unconstitutional, it not having — @ two-thirds vote in either branch of the Legis- ure, It is also stated that the Callicot Investigating Commit ‘tee will again the investigation, (or the purpose of giving Senator Low an opportunity to explain his connec- tion with the draft on the Treasurer of the committee. His friends are quite indignant against the committee for Ug oy oe the position that they have, The way Railroad bill re to be resting quite easy. It ja doubtful about ite being reported trom the special committee before The ea. , April 6, 1863, The subscription agent announces the conversion of $8,000,000 by eae into 5 20's for the week enai yesterday. daily average is over $1,000,000, subscriptions are received from every quarier in large and small sums, involving & vast amount of labor and detail The Kusopean Steamers. } SAILING OF THE BOHEMIAN. Portia, April 6,1863. | ‘The Bohemian, Captain Borland, sailed at ten o'clock A. | M. Sunday morning. | ABRIVAL OF THE CANADA AT BOSTON, | Dostos, April >, 1963, | ‘The Canada arrived to-day. Her mails were despatched | by to night's train, due in New York at six o'clock A. M. | Monday. wICRS IN St. Pere asm Pane ssuvro.—The s ted in a | Raster Sr | Cuonem, Wins } yesterday cot rate with the d Camone # in this church we 4 ur co A ‘ull orchestra, | nde. of Herr Jos. Noll—Pror. Melvilie presidim —did the instramental portion of Haydn's Fourth Macs, M Rottor, the prima donna Of the late German Opera, leading soprano part alto, Hi. bs 4. enor, aud M. Mel- | At the off: rtor Inflammatas,’ trom | Stabat Maver kiven with thriling effect, ! was proach the Gospel of the day by 5 chareh, and was a finished p € Tue large church was filled to overtiowing huvdrecs of the auditory being Provestants, { Agbandsome couec wo was faken wp (or the Orphans. i HIGHLY IMPORTANT NEWS, Charleston Attacked by Our Land and Naval Forces on Thursday Last. The City Reported to Be in Possession of Union Troops. Rebel Accounts from the South Carolina Coast. UNION TROOPS LANDED AT JOHN’S ISLAND : Successful Skirmishing With the Rebel Pickets, &e., Wasuineron, April 5, 1863. The report has reached here by way ot Fredericksburg, derived from rebel sources, that Charleston was bombarded by our fleetand at tacked by our land forces on Thursday last, and is key &e. now in possession of the federals under General . Hunter and Admiral Dupont. This report is fully credited by promingnt offi- cers of the government, who were in possession of facts in reference to the contemplated attack upop Charleston which it is not yet prudent to divulge. It is certain, however, that those who possess this information are confident that our soldiers and sailovs will selebrate the second anniversary of the fall of Fort Sumter in the captured city of Charleston. The restrictions upon the publication in the Southern papers of any adverse news are 60 stringent that it is not expected to find much im them in reference to the capture of Charleston until the disaster can be no longer concealed; but the reports which have arrived are definite and - positive, and are believed by those who have the best right to know what foundation there is for them. Rebel Accounts. (From the Richmond Dispatch, April 8.) STARTLING FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA COAST. The enemy have landed in force on Seabrook’s, or John’s Island. Three gunboats and several transports are lying off the island. Skirmishing has already taken place between ours and the enemy’s pickets. Our pickets are driven in and the enemy advancing. General Haygood has ordered all the women, children and non-combatants removed from Adama Ran, which is twenty miles from Seabrook’s Island. Pensacola Nearly Destroyed by Fire. Forrrnas Monon, April 4, 1868. ‘Yesterday's Richmond Dispatch says:—Pensacola waa fired by the Union soldiers about the 234 ult., and the moat of the town destroyed. The soldiers are going to re-enforce General Banks. ‘The Irish Relief Fund. ADDRESS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD OF THE IRIS® RELISF COMMITTEE TO THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES. ~ ‘The undersigned, appointed to act az the Executive Board of the Irish Relief Committee, beg teave to appeal im the name of our common humanity to the 18 of the United States, to assist them in the are to send with all possib'e des: & supply of money and food to the people of Ireland, now threatened with the most dread(ul of human ailictions—famine; and the undersigned feel confident, when the facts are known, provera wich ek memento will be made. The calamity which has most unexpectedly falien upon the Ee Fie eae aig eee eee ve guar against no justry or hus. bunding of means could have averted. From 1447 until the commencement—about three years which have produced the present state ple of had become marked for their dustry, their genera! application vo and manu- facturing pursuite, and for their provident habits, In the year 1860, however, there was a failure of crops im humerous districts, from the continued prevalence of rain, both before and during the season of harvest. The extensive failure of the hay crop, and the general want of food for the support of animals, ied in the course of the sucoeeding winter to an enormous lose of cattlo—that most necessary auxiliary to the labors of the husband. man—and maieriaily crippled the resources of the far mers in the succeeding season, his calamity, however, could have been easily borne, but, to the consternation the agricultural classes, after the crops were in the ground dnring the next year, a rainy eeason again set in, from July to October, over nearly the whole of the West © and the South of Ireland, so continavus that the anripened grain rotted in the fields. The people still bore up man- tally A npoed this new ray tm and with ooh ai minished resources prepared for an on, , ae iT it wore destfued that thelr cup 4 aici Aout be filled to overiiowing, a visitation of exactly the same character again oceurred, but this time more widely spread and desolating in its effect. What was before limited to certain districts now pepo over the whole en Save in bed ral calamity richly cultivated and prosperous parts of t! country where want had been eockead clthown. Kven in these sections people hitherto blessed with abundanes are now living upon a single meal a day of the scantiest kind, aud in the gloomy pros of the future the chance even of getting that is diminiahing, while in ponte ini deaths from Kiya laine " in large numbers, have been averted on! prom, action of the berievolent. * Hundreds of felis wou! have starved,’ says a gentieman writing to a member of ths committee, ‘had it not been for the timely aid you sent us.’’ There is every indication that a famine is im- pending. which, uviese ‘averted, will be more extensive than that which eccurred in Ireland in the years 1846 and 1847, when over 66.000 huroan beings are estimated to bave perished from starvation or from diseases brought on by want and destitution, 21,770 from actual starvation. The famine during that period was ‘aed g mainly to the faslure of the potato, the chief reliance of the poor; but, as allother crope were luxuriant, there were many die- tricts where the famine was unfelt; but at the present pe- riod every crop bas failed, amd there is no part of the a ean be said to be exempt from causes whieh have been general in thcir effect. Nor ts the distress limited to the agricultural classes. ‘There is the greatest privation in the manufacturing die- tricts, growing out of the civil war in this country, The cotton spinners jn the North, a most industrious and pa- merous class, are suffering exactiy in the same degree and from the same causes athe Lancashire operatives in England. In ope manufacturing district alone over nine thousand persones have been for a long period wholly without employment, and are now suffering a degree of wretchedness the details ot which are harrow: ing. It is this double affliction which makes the calamity 80 widespread and universal; sud it is earnestly hoped that the appeal of the undersigned, for a people in po way responsible for the sad visitation of unfruitiul fleids for three successive years, or for the fact that large bodies of operatives been unexpectedly deprived of the means of sustenance, will receive the consideration to which it is entitled. The of a hard working, provident and moral people it to the verge of fe mine through rauses whieh they could not control, which might have befallen any people under similar cireum- stances, presenta ope of the most touching of human ap- . This hoped that our people will not wait until their charity is invoked, as it was in 1847, by the sickening details of human beings dying of famine by the rondsides—of w: women and pertshing litle cbil- dren calling ia vain for food, but that in the large heart that belongs to Our people our benevolence will be as timely as it is spontaneous, Secured i our own land by a wile diversity of climate and the varied prodncts of or soil from auch a calamity, we can scarcely realize the efiects produced by such a cause, and the fact that thie has occurred to the Irish people for the second time within a quarter of a century should awaken for thom a still deeper sympathy. We can hope fur no response to this appea! except from that part of the United how engaged in an earnest struggle to maintaty the ter tor! unity of the nation against the attempt th. has been made to dismember it, and we fee how much we ask of our brethren under suc mato nees but we feel at the came time Lhat no more bediting anawer ean be given to those who have maligned our An sought to divert y to show, by our re do toapprais of thin nnture, that, weighty aa the ‘iggle 1 which We ato engage, oud many ax may be the burdens it hype On us, WO will not ture a dea! car pring people of ‘other lands cry aloud to we CHAS. P. DALY, Chairmaa. Treasurer. a Jor Daniel Devita, Arthur O'Donnell, Edward C. Donnelly, No. 44 Williaa street. Kugene Kelly, 6 T. itredy, Walter Magee, ’ ca 4